- Pakistan Skipper Fatima Sana says focus solely on the game.
- India enjoys undefeated record against Pakistan in women’s ODDs.
- No handshake is expected as BCCI suggests the continued policy.
Colombo: Pakistan and India are ready to meet today in a highly expected match by the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup at R Premadasa Stadium at Sri Lanka’s Colombo.
Pakistan suffered a massive defeat against Bangladesh in their first meeting of the tournament, while India managed to defeat Sri Lanka in the Women’s Cricket World Cup opener.
The fight is likely to be affected by rain, with forecasts that predict intermittent showers throughout the day. Rain is expected before the match begins and can continue with different intensities during the game.
Colombo has already seen heavy rain recently, and yesterday’s match between Sri Lanka and Australia was interrupted due to persistent showers.
Statistics show that Pakistan has never beaten India in women’s ODDs, with the two teams facing each other 11 times where India has come victorious at all occasions.
The tournament will take place from September 30 to November 2 in India and Sri Lanka, and Pakistan will play all their group phase matches at R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
If Pakistan advances to the semi -finals on October 29 and the final on November 2nd, both matches will also be held in Colombo.
‘No handshake’
Earlier, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia said that the Pakistan policy will remain unchanged in their upcoming clash in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
In an interview with BBCThe BCCI secretary stated that there was no assurance that Indian players will shake hands with their Pakistani colleagues during their upcoming match in Colombo on October 5.
“I can’t predict anything but our relationship with that country [Pakistan] is the same; There is no change in the last week, “Saikia said.
“India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo and all cricket protocols will be followed. I can only assure me what is in MCC [Marylebone Cricket Club] Regulations on cricket that will be made.
“Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I can’t assure you anything in this moment,” he added.
His comments come in the background of India’s controversial and widely condemned behavior during the recently completed Asia Cup 2025, when men’s team refused to shake hands with Pakistan players and gave political statements during ceremonies after battle and press conferences.
India also refused to collect the winner’s trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
‘Focus solely on games’
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Captain Captain Fatima Sana, who turned to a pre-mouber on Saturday, said her team is focused exclusively on the game.
However, Fatima was still asked to share if she would miss the spirit and the camera between the two teams referring to their off-Field interactions after their match in the 2022 edition of the mega event as the Indian players then surrounded Pakistan Captured Bismmah Maroof and cooed over her six-month-old daughter.
Fatima, who was part of the national team, repeated then in response, Pakistan’s attitude to fulfill the spirit, but emphasized that their primary goal is to ‘stay focused’ on the game.
“Our main goal is to play well. Our relationship with the other teams is good. We will try to fulfill the spirit of the game,” said Fatima.
“What happened before, as with Bismmah’s daughter, when everyone mixed and enjoyed together, like players, we all like such moments. But the most important thing is to focus on what we’ve come here for,” she added.
The Pakistani Captain also rejected the notion that odds were against them as they track India 11-0 in their head-to-head record in the women’s ODDs and emphasized instead that her team has the potential to beat any top side and say the items are intended to be broken.
